Year Round Volunteer

Year Round Volunteering

Year round volunteers are essential to the continued operation of MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. They make a serious long term commitment to dedicate their valuable time, energy and skills to the hospital's patients, families and associates.

Volunteer Requirements

Be at least 17 years old

Commit to a minimum of 100 hours a year (4 hours per week)

Submit all application materials on time

Interview with a member of our Volunteer Services Department

Complete clearances (if applicable)

Attend a General Volunteer Orientation session

Specialized Program-based Orientation (if applicable)

Application Deadlines

Applications for the Year Round program are accepted continuously throughout the year. The application process should take approximately four to six weeks depending on the timeliness of your submission of application materials. Once accepted into the program, you will have 30 days to complete all remaining application materials, tests and health screenings. Applicants who have not submitted all required materials within the two week timeframe may no longer be considered for the program. Please note that the number of positions available is based on current need and we highly encourage applicants to re-apply every 6 months if not accepted previously. Our greatest need for volunteers is Mon-Fri from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Step 1: Recommender Forms

Identify two recommenders to complete a recommender form on your behalf. Provide your recommenders with the recommender form and/or the link to access the form on our web page. Recommendation forms must be submitted no later than two weeks from the date you submit your online application to be considered.

Step 2: Submit Year Round Volunteer Application

Complete the Year Round Volunteer Application online. Applications will remain on file for 2 weeks and will not be considered complete until both recommender forms are submitted. Once the complete application is received, Volunteer Services will review the application. The strength of the recommendations, the current needs of the hospital, and availability of applicant will determine whether the applicant will be contacted for an interview.

Step 3: Interview with Volunteer Services

The Volunteer Services department will interview all candidates who exemplify the traits we are seeking in our volunteers and who may fit a current need. Interviews will take place at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Once your interview is scheduled, you will be sent additional information on how to prepare, including documentation that you will be asked to bring to your interview.

Step 4: Notification and Clearance

After the interview, Volunteer Services will contact you with a decision and final steps. All accepted applicants over the age of 18 years old will be instructed to complete the following steps within two weeks of acceptance into the MedStar Georgetown Volunteer Program:

Schedule and take Drug Test and TB Screen if necessary

These tests are scheduled through Volunteer Services. They are administered at no cost to our applicants and volunteers at our Occupational Health Office, located on the Ground Floor of the Bles building. For TB screening, MedStar Georgetown is no longer accepting a traditional PPD test for TB clearance, only the QuantiFERON (blood test) is accepted. If you have received the QuantiFERON at another facility, you may submit documentation to Occupational Health to be cleared.

Complete Background Check online (18+ years)

MedStar Georgetown utilizes a third party to conduct background checks of all volunteers over 18 years of age. An electronic request will be sent from the third party directly to the email address listed in your application. (Please be sure to respond to the prompt in the email within one week, as the link will expire.)

Step 5: Orientation & Getting Started

After you have been accepted, and all screenings are cleared, you will be required to attend an orientation session prior to beginning your service. This orientation session is mandatory and will be the final step in preparing to volunteer at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Orientations are generally held once a month, although special arrangements can be made.

ID badge and Volunteer Jacket: Each volunteer is provided a identification badge and jacket to be worn each time he/she volunteers. In addition to identifying you as a volunteer, the badge provides free parking in any of our visitor parking lots/garages.

Transportation:

Parking: As mentioned, badges allow volunteers to exit without paying for their parking.

Annual Volunteer Clearances

Each year volunteers are required to update their Tuberculosis Screenings and Flu Vaccinations.

Annual Tuberculosis Screening: This screening needs to be completed once every twelve months. Example: If you received your last QuantiFERON test in February 2016, you will be due to renew it in February 2017. For the annual screening, the QuantiFeron TB test can be completed elsewhere, but you must submit documentation to Occupational Health.

Flu Vaccination: All volunteers who volunteer during flu season will need to get a flu vaccination. The vaccination can be completed at another location, or in Occupational Health (located on ground floor of Bles Building). Walk-ins are welcomed Monday – Friday, from 7:30am to 3:00pm. If you choose to complete the flu vaccination at another location, you will need to submit proof of vaccination to Occupational Health.

Tips for Navigating the Volunteer Application Process Successfully

Be consistent by using your legal name on all submitted documents including documents submitted on your behalf. Be sure the name used by recommenders is consistent with your application submission.

Submit your health clearance form to your primary care provider as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for it to be completed and returned. The completed health clearance form (complete with a physical within the last 12 months) will need to be received by volunteer services before you will be able to continue the process.

Remind your recommenders of the deadline for submission and follow up with them to ensure they submit the forms. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure recommendation forms are received within two weeks of the application submission.

Be sure to check your junk mail. Mass communications for the department can sometimes be filtered incorrectly by email carriers.

Magnet® recognition is a distinction granted to hospitals for quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice. Research shows achieving Magnet status benefits nurses, health care organizations, and the communities they serve through increased nurse and patient satisfaction, an ability to attract and retain top nursing talent, and improved clinical outcomes for patients. MedStar Georgetown is proud to have been the first Magnet hospital in Washington, D.C. Learn more.